DOE'S THE OTHER SIDE SHOW SUCH RESPECT FOR THE RIGHTS OF THEIR DETAINEES? WHAT DO YOU THINK? REMEMBER THE SOVIET PW'S IN AFGHANISTAN WHO HAD THE CHOICE OF CONVERTING TO ISLAM OR BEING BEHEADED? I HOPE THIS IMAM PREACHES A DIFFERENT MESSAGE THAN HIS COLLEAGUES IN TOWN!=====================================================================================Respecting the Rights of Detainees

On 20 January, 2006, Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) working at the detention center on Forward Operating Base Warrior continue to expand the religious opportunities for the detainees.

Military Police from the 1-101st Special Troops Battalion, 1st BCT, in cooperation with the battalion and brigade chaplain offices, worked to bring a chaplain from the Iraqi Army to the detention center to talk and pray with the detainees. 1st Lt. Erika Frederick, the MP Platoon Leader, and Chaplain (Cpt.) Todd Claypool of the 1-101st STB, helped Captain Emad Khasram Salih brings his life calling as an Imam to those in the detention center. Captain Emad Khasram Salih of the Iraqi Army 2nd Brigade

Imam Salih’s visits are just another step in the efforts being made by the Soldiers to preserve and enhance the religious practices of the detainees. When detainees are in processed they are presented with a bed, blankets, water, towel, clothing, as well as a prayer mat and Koran. They receive two meals a day and the Soldiers have recently expended the selection of pork free meals. Since watches are not allowed, Soldiers knock on the cell doors throughout the day to let detainees know when it is prayer time. Within the cities, during prayer times, the Imam of the town will play a prayer over a speaker system for all to hear. The Soldiers at the detention facility are currently working with Imam Salih to get a tape of the prayers so they can play them for the detainees.

The detainees at FOB Warrior are a mixture of captured anti-Iraqi forces and local citizens brought in for questioning. The treatment and protection of these and all detainees is outlined in several international and national documents including the Third and Forth Geneva Conventions pertaining to the Treatment of Prisoners of War and Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War respectively. The religious opportunities available to detainees at FOB Warrior extend beyond what is outlined in these documents.